A roundup of the latest ICT/technology news from across the Caribbean region for the period Monday 15 November to Sunday 21 November 2021.
Monday, 15 November 2021
Cable Bahamas Business Solutions, RF Bank & Trust co-host ‘Think Beyond’
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas Business Solutions and RF Bank & Trust recently announced the first in a series of webinars designed to give local businesses the tools to thrive, even during times of economic uncertainty… more
Cable Targets $80m New Providence Fibre Roll-Out
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas plans to invest $80m over the next two-three years on rolling out its New Providence fibre-to-the-home network, its top executive has revealed… more
Smart courts highlighted at opening of Industrial Tribunal legal year
Bahamas – Attorney General Ryan Pinder heralded the technological evolution of the Industrial Tribunal for the creation of the first smart courts in the country… more
Bridge Network Becomes the First DeFi Project Launched out of Barbados
Barbados – As the cryptocurrency and blockchain world booms, Barbados becomes home to a decentralized finance (DeFi) project for the first time. Known as ‘Bridge Network’, the project allows anyone to move between blockchains in a frictionless and permissionless environment… more
Blockchain License in BVI
British Virgin Islands – The blockchain technology that is used to support e-money transactions has several applications in the realm of business… more
Caribbean Employment: Jamaican Government Aims to Generate 70,000 Digital Services Jobs by 2025
Jamaica – The government of Jamaica is undertaking ambitious development of its digital services sector, according to Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Audley Shaw, with a view to generate some 70,000 Digital service jobs within the next five years… more
Francis Wade | Becoming a data-focused company
Jamaica – In the past few years, what opportunities has the shift to online business created for local companies? Your firm may be automating its processes, but is it also converting the data being collected into competitive advantage? … more
NCB national CSEC bursary programme to focus on digital
Jamaica – THE NCB Foundation National CSEC Bursary Programme has shifted its focus in order to align with the foundation’s overall revised digital mandate… more
TT media and the blockchain
Trinidad and Tobago – LOCAL media houses have tended to give new internet technologies the squinty eye, picking and choosing basic systems to maintain an online presence… more
Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Cable Bahamas fully supports partnership on MARCO alert system
Bahamas – Dwayne Davis, chief information officer for the Cable Bahamas Group of companies, confirmed that initial testing of the MARCO alert system was successful for Cable Bahamas on Monday, November 15th… more
Millions of documents scanned, Years to get there before TCI gets Effective E-Government System
Cayman Islands – The goal is not simply turning paper documents into electronic ones or connecting everyone to the government’s services via the internet… more
PSA: Fraudulent Notice Regarding Payment for Mobile Phone Competition
Jamaica – Bank of Jamaica is aware that unscrupulous persons are circulating a fraudulent message that claims that the Bank is offering prize money, in the form of a cheque, for a mobile phone competition… more
We want to sell 49% stake in TSTT
Trinidad and Tobago – LIBERTY Latin America, which owns FLOW and Cable & Wireless Communications, says the company continues to be committed to honouring the terms of the agreement to divest its 49 per cent shareholdings in Telecommunications Services of T&T (TSTT)… more
Flow customers in Grand Turk to get improved Broadband with completion of fourth Tower
Turk and Caicos Islands – Flow TCI has announced work has begun to upgrade its fourth tower which is intended to replace the existing tower at the Queen Street, Grand Turk site… more
Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Digitization survey reveals positive shift towards use of digital assets
Bahamas – A survey on digital transformation among businesses, compiled by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation’s (BCCEC) Digital Transformation Committee (DTC), reveals that there has been a “positive shift” in how businesses think about and use digital assets for their transformation and the continuation of their businesses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the chamber revealed in a press statement, though many of those surveyed did not launch an e-commerce platform during the pandemic… more
Initial Testing Of Marco Alert System ‘Successful’
Bahamas – CABLE Bahamas Group of Companies officials said initial testing of the MARCO Alert system was successful on its platform on Monday… more
BCCEC: Cybersecurity concerns deter half of businesses from e-commerce platform
Bahamas – More than half of the respondents in a Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) survey listed cybersecurity concerns as the reason for not making e-commerce platforms available to their customers… more
To incubate or accelerate — getting it right
Caribbean – The need to support the development of the tech entrepreneurial ecosystem with programmes intended to help start-ups scale and grow has long been an area of focus for the Caribbean region… more
Expanding digital strategy, Scotiabank Cayman launches cashless branch
Cayman Islands – Scotiabank Cayman has again advanced its digital adoption strategy with the introduction of a “cashless” operating model that will be implemented at its South Sound Branch location on December 1… more
Dominican Republic gets ready for first 5G networks
Dominican Republic – The Dominican Republic’s telecom regulator (Indotel) is currently signing contracts with 5G tender winners and the first such networks should be activated by the end of 1Q22, said Indotel president Julissa Cruz… more
Ann Marie Walter-Allen | Costly cybersecurity gamble
Jamaica – The internet can be a dangerous place, but too few business owners think about this fact until it’s too late… more
C&WJ to effect share buy-back scheme
Jamaica – With its deferred shares trading below par or issue value, Communities & Workers of Jamaica Co-operative (C&WJ) Credit Union Limited has announced plans to buy back up to 10 per cent of its 450 million deferred shares in issue… more
Digicel Jamaica to invest further USD 200 mln in 4G drive
Jamaica – Digicel Jamaica is allocating a further USD 200 million to ensuring its 4G coverage reaches 99 percent of the local population by the end of next year, reports The Jamaica Observer, citing the operator’s chief technology and innovation officer Chandrika Samaroo… more
Flow Jamaica outperforms other C&W Caribbean operations
Jamaica – With the pandemic continuing to change how the world operates, Flow Jamaica has continued to reap the fruits of its labour as it earned US$297.3 million ($44.60 billion) in revenue for the nine months and added more than 100,000 customers in the last year for its non-mobile business (fixed lines, internet and video)… more
NCB Foundation paying for digital exams
Jamaica – The NCB Foundation National Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Bursary Programme is pushing a digital agenda by covering the full examination fees for studies in information technology (IT) and electronic document preparation and management (EDPM)… more
St Lucia gets set for superfast fibre future with Digicel+
Saint Lucia – In the lead up to the first anniversary of Digicel’s launch as a Digital Operator, the company continues to deliver on its promise to customers of simply more with the introduction of Digicel+… more
Thursday, 18 November 2021
Cable Bahamas CEO: 5G unlikely within next two years
Bahamas – Cable Bahamas’ top executive said that while the company continues to plan and strategize for the introduction of 5G technology, it is not likely a priority within the next 12-24 months in terms of execution… more
GBPA and ArawakX partner to make access to capital and wealth creation accessible to more Bahamians
Bahamas – A new partnership between the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) and Bahamian investment firm ArawakX is helping to enable Grand Bahama entrepreneurs to access capital to launch or expand a business venture… more
Retailer’s E-Commerce Portal ‘Puts Us Ahead Of Competitors’
Bahamas – A major Bahamian retailer yesterday said its e-commerce investment had given the business more “exposure” while allowing customers to shop from the safety of their homes… more
Wayne Munroe And Ann-Marie Davis Receive Marco’S Alert Test Message
Bahamas – MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe and Ann-Marie Davis, wife of the prime minister, attended a test event for the MARCO Alert system at ALIV yesterday… more
Flow donates 200 tablets to Ministry of Education
Barbados – As demand for electronic devices and connectivity remains high, a telecommunications company is continuing its efforts to assist students who are attending classes online… more
Putting analytics into practice
Caribbean – A recent ACCA webinar on in the Caribbean featured data analyst professionals from the big four firms – Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC – as they explained how the finance functions of the future will harness new technologies for the benefit of the whole organisation. But to do so, they will also need to change how they operate… more
Trade: Digitisation and e-commerce
Grenada – In these covideous times we need to flow with the times as Grand Anse Beach water flows with the tide! … more
DBJ, JTDA help businesses go-digital during the pandemic
Jamaica – The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance (JTDA), formerly the Jamaica Computer Society, are assisting businesses with digital transformation so that they may function more effectively during the pandemic and recover from its adverse effects… more
MPs to get tablets for distribution
Jamaica – The island’s 63 members of parliament are to receive 100 tablets each to distribute in their constituency over the next few weeks… more
FLOW launches family bundle service
Saint Kitts and Nevis – AS a way of giving customers more for their dollar, FLOW has launched its new family bundle packages that provide more internet and talk for subscribers… more
Huawei signs MOU with QPCC to enhance fan experience
Trinidad and Tobago – QUEEN’S Park Cricket Club (QPCC), already known as one of the premier clubs in the region, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Huawei to make the fan experience at the Queen’s Park Oval more luxurious… more
Meet Champions of Business nominees for entrepreneurship, business technology awards
Trinidad and Tobago – Entrepreneurship has become a valued aspect of modern business because of its capacity to drive positive change not only at the commercial but at the societal level… more
Riding the wave of digitalisation
Trinidad and Tobago – Have you moved into the digital age yet? Not even the age of the future, but the age of now? … more
Friday, 19 November 2021
Cable Bahamas Q1 performance strong despite COVID headwinds
Bahamas – A focus on driving growth and strategically managing financial service instruments have been the major themes highlighted in the most recent fiscal reports from Cable Bahamas Group, the country’s leading telecommunications provider and controlling shareholder of Be Aliv Limited… more
E-Commerce Usage To Surge With ‘Familiarity’
Bahamas – A Bahamas-based information technology provider yesterday said e-commerce system usage will increase once companies and consumers become more “familiar” with it… more
GBPA, ArawakX partner to increase access to capital for Bahamians
Bahamas – Anew partnership between the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) and Bahamian investment firm ArawakX is helping to enable Grand Bahama entrepreneurs to access capital to launch or expand a business venture… more
Grand Bahama government services to be placed on Digital Transformation Unit platform
Bahamas – Officials of the Digital Transformation Unit, a branch of the Department of Transformation and Digitization, were in Grand Bahama on Thursday, November 18, 2021, to meet with Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey to assist the Ministry of Grand Bahama in uploading government services online… more
Barbados to establish world’s first metaverse embassy
Barbados – The tiny Caribbean nation has inked a deal with leading metaverse platform Decentraland to legally declare digital real estate to build its virtual embassy… more
From Sugar Cane to Blockchain nine things you didn’t know about Barbados, and why you should visit the Barbados Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
Barbados – Known for being one of the Caribbean’s most idyllic islands, there’s much more to Barbados than beautiful beaches, sugar cane-based beverages, turquoise seas, and a certain famous daughter known as Rihanna… more
Ministry accepts tablets donation
Barbados – Several primary school students from across the island will soon have an easier time accessing their educational material online, after Flow Barbados donated some 200 tablets to the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training on Thursday… more
Digicel Business talks Digital Entrepreneurship and Future Tech for ahead of the Curve
Jamaica – Digicel Business is staying Ahead of the Curve with its webinar series, and this month’s session, on 23 November 2021, is all about Digital Entrepreneurship and Future Tech… more
Huawei donates interactive classroom systems to Ministry of Education
Jamaica – Students of the Pembroke Hall High School in St Andrew now have access to a state-of-the-art Huawei Idea Hub Interactive Classroom System to support online/remote learning… more
Jamaican Government To Digitally Transform Health Sector
Jamaica – Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness is to spend an estimated J$1.3 billion towards the digital transformation of the health sector, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton has said… more
JMMB forms payments division for digital services
Jamaica – JMMB Group Limited is setting up an alternative payments division through which it will expand remittance and banking services… more
Tablets Distributed to Green Park Primary and Junior High School
Jamaica – Minister of Education, Youth and Information The Hon. Fayval Williams has given the assurance that come February 2022, Green Park Primary and Junior High School will be renamed Green Park Primary and Infant School… more
DIGICEL+ Brings Superfast Fibre Future To SVG
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – With official rollout scheduled to begin in November, Digicel+ (the new name for Digicel’s home and entertainment service) is set to ensure customers across St.Vincent and the Grenadines superfast and super reliable broadband experience underpinned by service delivery that is, of course, second to none… more
Flow donates tablets to students from the volcanic Red Zone
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – LAST WEDNESDAY November 17, 2021, telecommunications company FLOW St. Vincent and the Grenadines, handed over a quantity of tablets to the Ministry of Education for use by students from the volcanic Red Zone, whose tablets were either lost or destroyed during the evacuation process on Thursday April 08, 2021, and during the days thereafter… more
Taiwan company donates 150 tablet computers to SVG
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – The Taiwan sportswear company SHEICO Group yesterday donated 150 tablet computers to the Embassy of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to help students access online education in areas affected by the volcanic eruption of La Soufrière… more
TelEm Group investigating suspect fiber cable damage in Philipsburg area.
Sint Maarten – TelEm Group is reporting damage to TelEm Fiber cables and equipment in the Philipsburg area, saying the damage shows signs of tampering by a person or persons unknown… more
Digicel invests in ‘EPIC’ future for women
Trinidad and Tobago – Women from both the Venezuelan migrant and the local Trinidadian community will benefit from a recent partnership between the Digicel Foundation, Living Water Community and Together WI… more
Mastercard And Trinidad & Tobago International Financial Centre Fast Track Digital Transformation In The Caribbean Nation
Trinidad and Tobago – Today, Mastercard and Trinidad & Tobago International Financial Centre (TTIFC) announced their partnership to develop and implement strategic solutions that advance digital and financial inclusion by supporting fintech companies on the island… more
Saturday, 20 November 2021
Haiti International Friendship ARC to Set Up Emergency Communications Network
Haiti – The magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Haiti on August 14, 2021 has shown that there is an urgent need for better emergency communications in the nation… more
600 unattached youth get IT training
Jamaica – The Universal Service Fund (USF) concluded a series of closing ceremonies for over 600 participants in its second cohort of the Technology Advancement Programme (TAP) on Tuesday at the Liguanea Club in Kingston… more
400,000 students to benefit from National Coding in Schools Programme
Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday officially launched the National Coding in Schools Programme, which will benefit 400,000 students… more
NIDS can skip regulations delays – Johnson Smith
Jamaica – Leader of Government Business, Kamina Johnson Smith sought to assure senators that the NIDS Bill will not be bogged down by bureaucracy, following its safe passage through the Senate on Friday… more
PM Donates 120 Tablets to Four Westmoreland Schools
Jamaica – Students from four schools in Westmoreland have benefited from a donation of 120 tablet computers by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, through his Positive Jamaica Foundation… more
Sunday, 21 November 2021
Digital marketing specialist and social media influencer, Stacey Dos Santos-Rahaman is a ‘Special Person’
Guyana – Heralded as the world’s top ecotourism destination, Guyana is home to some of the most pristine rainforests which are surrounded by rugged terrains, enchanting rivers, and waterfalls, as well as some of the most exotic plant and animal species… more
Gov’t plans countrywide telecoms survey to identify unserved areas – PM
Guyana – While the government is hoping that competition in the telecoms sector will see services expanded to unserved areas, it will also be rolling out its own countrywide evaluation soon to determine specific needs, Prime Minister Mark Phillips says… more
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